ABACE – SHANGHAI HONGQIAO – APRIL 2015

Shanghai Hongqiao Airport – 14th April – 16th April 2015

This year saw the 10th anniversary of ABACE and the 4th year in succession that the event has been held at Hawker Pacific Business Aviation Service Center.

The Hawker Pacific Business Aviation Center was opened in April 2010 and is celebrating it’s 5th anniversary. The SHPBASC (for short) is a full service FBO facility. This type of facility may be common place around the World but is in it’s infancy here in China. Despite the slight downturn in GA activity in China the SHPBASC saw an increase of 6.5% in 2014 and an increase of 70% in maintenance,service and overhaul services. SHPBASC also carry out FBO services over at Shanghai’s main airport Pudong

The show has gradually developed over the years with this years show being the biggest in it’s short history. There were 36 aircraft on static display and over 180 exhibitors in attendance.

Ed Bolen, President and CEO of the National Business Aviation Association pointed out on opening the event that 40% of the exhibitors attending this years event were from China which is a marked increase on previous years which shows the growth of General Aviation in China.

AEROSPATIALE

B-7469 AS.350B Ecureuil (c/n 7394) – In service with Hubei Dragon General Aviation

AGUSTA WESTLAND

B-7787 A109SP (c/n 22327) – In service with Shanghai Jinhui General Aviation

B-7783 A139AW (c/n 31133) – In service with Shanghai Jinhui General Aviation

BEECHCRAFT

Beechcraft had 3 aircraft on static display.

N298KA King Air C90GTX (LJ-2098) – Company Demonstrator

N871EU King Air 350B (c/n FL-871) – Company Demonstrator

BOEING BUSINESS JETS

Boeing announced that they are currently assessing the market for a BBJ Combi variant. David Longridge the President of Boeing Business Jets explained that this variant “would be a great addition to the BBJ family and especially the Chinese market”

Boeing Business Jets currently have 18 units operating in China and feel the Chinese market will grow considerably over the next 5 years with the increase in International Business travel.

BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE

Bombardier announced a new sales contract for Global aircraft and have projected up to 950 Business Jet deliveries in China worth $30 Billion through 2023.

On static display were the following :

B-8116 Challenger 300 (c/n 20350) – In service with Hanhwa Airlines

N501BZ Challenger 350 (c/n 20501) – Company Demonstrator

N605BA – Challenger 605 – Company Demonstrator

B-7767 Challenger 850 – In service with Zyb Lily Jet.

Bombardier also had a Global 6000 N543GL c/n 9543 positioned at Pudong airport which was viewable by appointment.

CESSNA AIRCRAFT

Cessna Aircraft have identified China as it’s main future export market. This comes on the back of it’s first Citation XLS sale in China and the imminent certification in China of the Citation X and Citation Sovereign. Cessna have teamed up with Avic aircraft to produce these aircraft in China with parts supplied by Cessna.

Cessna-Avic Aircraft have been producing the C208 Caravan in China since 2014 and the amphibious model is doing extremely well.

N133XL Citation 560XLS Excel (c/n 560-6133) – Company Demonstrator

B-0405 Cessna 208B Caravan EX (c/n 208B5138) – AVIC Demonstrator

CIRRUS

Cirrus announced a deal for 132 aircraft to the Chinese Cirrus agent GDAT. This includes a firm order for 60 SR20/22 aircraft and 6 SF50 Vision aircraft within the next 6 months and options for the remainder.

B-9752 Cirrus SR-20 (c/n 2176) – In Service

Vision SF50 – Mock Up

DASSAULT FALCON

N163FJ Falcon 7X (c/n 163) – Company Demonstrator

F-HCRK Falcon 2000S (c/n 707) – Company Demonstrator

EMBRAER EXECUTIVE JETS

B-3096 Legacy 600 (c/n 14501145) – In service with Man Sang International

N142GZ Legacy 550 (c/n 55000008) – Company Demonstrator

GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE

Gulfstream have a major market share in the Chinese Business Aviation market which has seen the amount of Gulfstreams in China more than double in the last couple of years with many more on order although time will only tell if the recent downturn in Business Aviation in China will impact on the provisional orders Gulfstream have. Gulfstream saw a 10% rise in sales in 2014 from 2013.

B-8095 Gulfstream 550 (c/n 5059) – In service with Deer Jet

Deer Jet announced that it will stop buying new aircraft which could be bad news for Gulfstream Aerospace and instead look to the management of aircraft on behalf of owners jets. Deer Jet currently own 28 jets and manage 52 on behalf of customers. We will see a gradual decrease of owned aircraft in the future and the Gulfstream 550 that Deer Jet had on static display was for sale.

Deer Jet have identified the US market as a place to do business and will be increasing their presence in the US market once they can find a major US partner to work with. Firm plans are to be announced later this year.